Ricohflex / Diacord / Ricohmatic 6x6 TLRs

Riken/Ricoh produced low and high end
Twin Lens Reflex (TLR) cameras in the 1950's and
into the 1960's.

The Ricohflex family are budget priced models
with 3 element lenses that are geared together
for focusing. The bodies are made from sheet steel
with a thicker steel lens plate. Many models used
the Riken shutter that would only flash sync at 1/50.
Shutter speeds
are limited compared to Rolleiflex's and Rolleicords
of that era (most have only 1/25, 1/50, 1/100 and B).
All have the "red window" method to stop on the next
frame though Riken produced an Auto-Stop feature
that was factory installed on some cameras and could
be user installed. They use push-on filters.

The original Diacord model (a.k.a Ricohflex Dia) as well as the Diacord G and
L and Ricohmatic 225 have a cast aluminum body and helical focusing with a lever on each side
of the lens panel (called "Duo-Lever Focusing System"
in the Diacord G manual.). Better shutters were used giving more speeds: 1/10-1/300 (Dia), 1-1/400
(G) or 1-1/500(L and 225). The lens in the Dia is a 3 element design (AFAIK)
and some Diacord G's have a 3 element Riconar lens. Later G's as well as the
L's and 225 have the well regarded Rikenon 4-element (tessar style) lens.
The Diacord models
still use knob advance with separate shutter cocking
levers, but the 225 uses a crank to wind and simultaneously
cock the shutter. All models have automatic stop
on the next frame and thus don't have the red
window. They use Bay 1 filters and accessories (except
for Dia). Click here
if you want to build your own Bay 1 lens shade.

All models use 120 film to produce twelve 6x6 cm
images. Some models have an insert (called
Ricohkin or Color Adapter) which allows
portrait orientation shots to
be taken on 35 mm film. The Super Ricohflex
came in several versions. The one with
multiple red windows
on the back works with an insert to allow 127 film
to be used. There were additional models
like the Super 44 ( Photo )
which takes 127 format
film but these aren't covered here.
No models were made that use 220 film.

Ricohflex Model I, II and V: These model numbers were never used.
Ricohflex Model III: was introduced
in 1950. It has the same f3.5 Anastigmat lens as later models but
apertures are marked to f22 (instead of f16). Has the Riken shutter with
B, 1/25, 1/50 and 1/100 speeds. Compared to the Model VII it has
a smaller viewfinder magnifier and
a back locking mechanism that isn't as good. It has a folding
viewfinder shade which was changed to the pop-up type in the
Model IIIb (photo) which
also has the later style larger viewfinder magnifier.
Ricohflex Model IV: Introduced in 1952. Earlier ones are
labelled IIII which was later changed to the more correct
Roman Numeral IV. Shutter speeds of B and 1/25 to 1/100 are supported. I don't
(yet) know what the differences are from the III and IIIB models.
Ricohflex Model VI: Introduced
in 1953, is a
manual 6x6 format camera without light meter, using knob
film advance with "red window".
Ricohflex Model VII and VIIs:
Introduced in 1954 and 1955, are manual 6x6 format cameras without light meter, using knob
film advance with "red window". Some have the Auto-Stop feature.
Ricohflex Model VII (Seikosha shutter):
Introduced in 1954. Has Seikosha shutter with speeds of 1 sec to 1/500 plus B.
Ricohflex Model VIIM:
Introduced in 1956. Has shutter with speeds of 1/10 to 1/300 plus B.
Super Ricohflex: Introduced
in 1956, is a
manual 6x6 format camera without light meter, using knob
film advance with "red window(s)". Some models came from
the factory with the Auto-Stop feature (though red window
was still present). It was also available as a user-installed
option (photo). There were
four versions of the Super Ricohflex with three of them having
1/10 to 1/200 shutter speeds but one have 1 sec to 1/500 speeds.

Ricohflex Holiday: Similar to the Model VII, it has the Riken
shutter with limited shutter speeds (B, 1/25, 1/50 and 1/100) but has a flash shoe
and film reminder on the wind knob like the Super Ricohflex.
Ricohflex Million: Similar to the Model VII, but
has a Riken shutter with speeds from 1s to 1/300. And hot shoe on side
as well as PC connector on front panel. Photo coming soon.
Ricohflex Dia: The original Diacord.
The name plate says Ricohflex so it is sometimes
confused with the geared focusing Ricohflexes. Some
Diacord G's appear to have been
nameplated Ricohflex which adds
to the confusion. The Diacord L manual shows the camera
with a Ricohflex nameplate. So L's may also have been
produced with the Ricohflex nameplate.
Ricohflex Dia M: A cheaper version
of the with speeds from 1/10 to 1/300. Photo coming soon.
Ricohflex: The next version of the Dia. Has
bayonet 1 fittings on taking and viewing lenses. Has
Riconar 3 element taking lens. Photo coming soon.
Diacord G:
manual 6x6 format camera without light meter. Knob
advance with automatic stop on next frame.